NTRC Executive Director Missy Saracino Lamont said, “Launching this new collaboration with Youth Haven has been a much-anticipated goal for Naples Therapeutic Riding Center. Now that our new state-of-the art campus expansion is complete, we have the space and infrastructure to expand our equine-assisted therapies. We are very excited to welcome the children and teens from Youth Haven to our campus so they can reap the rewards of this innovative treatment program.

This four-week session is available to teens ages 15-18 who reside at Youth Haven. The teens will be accompanied by Sally Prost, Licensed Therapist at Youth Haven who will partner with NTRC’s instructors to help teens who have experienced abuse and abandonment build trust, grow in self-confidence and become aware of their emotions and how they affect behaviors.

Prost will tailor the sessions to address each child’s problems and treatment goals to help the troubled teens develop communication and leadership skills, reduce anxiety and anger as well as improve self-awareness and interpersonal relationships.

With the first treatment session wrapping up March 8th, Youth Haven Licensed Therapist, Sally Prost, shared, “This has been an incredible and worthwhile experience for the children of Youth Haven. The interaction between youth and horses has unconventionally, yet amazingly, enhanced the healing of past trauma.”

NTRC is a not-for-profit equestrian center that provides therapeutic horseback riding and equine-related programs for children and adults with special needs, social interaction difficulties and physical challenges. And now, children who have experienced horrific trauma in their lives can benefit from equine-facilitated psychotherapy, or the use of horseback riding as a therapeutic or rehabilitative treatment.

Availability of this program has been made possible by funding from the Naples Children & Education Foundation, founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival.

Youth Haven and NTRC invites the media to visit the Naples Therapeutic Riding Center located at 206 Ridge Drive on Thursday, March 8 at 3:30 p.m. to learn more about NTRC’s programming, and must RSVP in advance. Media will have the opportunity to speak with Missy Lamont and Sally Prost, however may not expose the identity of any children and teens participating in the program. Youth Haven participants may only speak to the media anonymously due to privacy policies. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Angela Navarro, Youth Haven Marketing and Development Coordinator at (239) 687-5178.